Story Published:
Apr 12, 2008 at 3:38 PM EST
Story Updated:
Mar 30, 2009 at 3:09 PM EST
Saturday was a dark and rainy day on the course, but that did little to dampen the spirits of a pastor and his two sons, on a journey for one final amen.
"It may get you a little wet," said Eric Olsen. "But that's all it's gonna do. We're excited to be here."
Eric Olsen has been a golfer for 44 years. All that time he's dreamed of setting foot on Augusta National.
"For years I've wanted to come," he said. "It's never worked."
In September it seemed for the golfer, pastor and father of three, the dream would not come true.
"I remember the day I got the phone call: 'his cancer is incurable, and he only has 6 months to live,'" said Olsen's son Shaun.
"It's something you don't want to hear," Olsen said. "It's tough.
Tougher yet as the cancer progressed and robbed him of his greatest passion.
"I went out about 7 or 8 weeks ago and tried, and I just couldn't," Olsen said, describing his inability to swing a golf club. "It was very depressing."
But when it seemed Olsen might never hit the links again, he was inside Augusta National.
Augustans donated badges and a place to stay, for Olsen and his two sons.
"It could be one of the last things we do as a family," said son Shane.
"It's times like these your family is everything," Olsen said. "So it's great."
For a man whose family and faith are everything, the final part of his dream couldn't be more fitting.
"We certainly want to, either today or tomorrow make our way to Amen corner," Olsen said.
Olsen says he can't explain how thankful he is to those who made the trip possible.
The Dream Foundation, which helps terminally ill adults realize their dreams, coordinated the trip.
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